Sewing machine lid and anti-skid cover therefor



June 14, 1960 M. L. AULDS 2,940,210

SEWING MACHINE L-ID AND ANTI-SKID COVER THEREFOR Filed Dec. 4, 1957 Fig.2

M/hnie L. Au/ds INVENYOR BY 5 3M5 SEWING MACHINE LID AND ANTI-SKID COVER THEREFOR Minnie L. Aulds, Rte. 1, Harlingen, Tex.

Filed Dec. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 700,611

4 Claims. (Cl. 45-683) This invention relates, broadly and generally construed, to a sewing machine, but more particularly to the type which is characterized by a leg-supported table having, as is customary, a hingedly mounted, fold-away lid which, when folded, functions as a cover for a receding machine and, when extended to assume a horizontal position, serves as a utility shelf providing, as is desirable, an accessible work surface.

More specifically, the concept has to do with the above named lid and means whereby the work surface may be better utilized, that is, to its utmost advantage and so that it will accordingly measure up to the requirements of practical service to a housewife, seamstress or other user of the machine.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the fiat top and bottom surfaces of the aforementioned shelf-forming lid are smooth and highly polished, in keeping with every-day furniture demands. When the lid is being used as a work surface or shelf, a problem often presents itself. That is to say, when the user of the sewing machine is sewing and stitching silk and satin-finished cloth and garment materials, no satisfactory way exists whereby the slippery surfaced material will stay put. Under the circumstances, it invariably shifts aimlessly about and in many instances where the piece of cloth is of appreciable size or area, it will often become accidentially displaced, exasperating the worker. It is perplexingly difficult to cope with this problem, since a solution thereof would fall short, it is believed, if the shelf work surface were coated, covered or prepared in some manner to present an anti-skid surface. That is to say, there are times when shiftable movement of the work piece which is being sewn should not be hindered or hampered.

When, however, slick-surfaced material is being worked on, it is highly undesirable that it be permitted to move and shift about recklessly. An objective in the instant matter is to ofier what is believed to be a satisfactory compromise wherein the surface may be allowed to remain smooth and glossy when desired or, when preferred, transform, temporarily so to speak, into a surface which is skid-resisting and otherwise presented to measure up to the needs of practical service to the user in pursuit of her often perplexing sewing and simultaneous holding tasks.

In carrying out the underlying principles which have given rise to an incentive to solve the problem, the concept, in a combination sense, has to do with a sewing machine embodying a horizontal machine-supporting table provided with a horizontal shelf extending outwardly from that end of the table adjacent the Working position of the user of the machine, said shelf having a flat work surface coplanar with the top of the table, said surface embodying taut but pliant skid-resisting means which functions to cause a slick-surfaced piece of work to temporarily adhere and cling thereto, whereby United States Patent a utility shelf and work surface.

2,940,210 Patented June 14, 1960 to thus prevent the same from becoming perplexing displaced while it is being sewn and otherwise handled.

Novelty is predicated on the above ways and means and wherein said means comprises a simple, practical and economical fabric slip cover. More particularly, the cover is a snug-fitting, readily applicable and removable terry cloth jacket which is slipped into place when needed and quickly removed when not in use and folded up and stored away in an available drawer of the table structure.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the sewing machine, that is, the table and a portion of the machine in perspective, and emphasizing the fold-away, horizontally disposed hinged utility shelf which is commonly referred to as the cover or lid, the anti-skid jacket being illustrated and positioned on the lid for use.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the jacket per se.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the table portion of the sewing machine is denoted generally by the numeral 6, the top thereof being denoted at 8 and the receding machine proper at 10. Hingedly attached to one transverse end portion of the top, as at 12, is the significant fold-away lid 14 (Fig. 2). This is the customary hingedly mounted lid which, when it is extended beyond the end of the table, is coplanar therewith and provides As before mentioned, both surfaces, as usual, of the lid are highly polished, and consequently slippery. Whereas this surface is highly desirable under certain working conditions, there are other conditions when, as before mentioned, it is, to say the least, perplexing and given to trying the patience of the worker. Whereas and as before touched upon it would be \m'thin the purview of this concept to provide any suitable means as a temporary cover for the work surface when one is sewing slippery materials, it is preferred that this surface be applicable and removable. To achieve this end and after much experimentation and trial and error efforts, it has been concluded that a simple, practical and economical slip cover, more specifically a snug-fitting, expansible and contractable jacket, is desirable. The jacket is denoted generally by the numeral 16 and is rectangular in form having top and bottom walls 18 and 20. At times, the cover has also been, perhaps properly so, referred to as a shelf or lid attachment in the form of a bag. To prevent displacement, the left hand end is closed at 22, while the right hand end is open at 24. At the open end, and suitably attached either directly or by way of a hem, there is an elastic binder 26. This edges the mouth and, in addition, provides additional elastic retentive properties assisting in holding the cover or jacket in place when used as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The jacket is preferably constructed of terry cloth of appropriate elastic properties. When the bag is off, it is narrower in width than the shelf or lid 14. When it is applied, it stretches and the inherent elastic prop erties function to tauten and retain the slipcover in the given position. The nap (not detailed) may be of such looped form that it presents the desired softness and pliancy while yet offering the skid-resisting properties desired. It will be evident that when the jacket is applied, it is distended and amply tautened to remain in and roportional to the size of the lid on and over which it is slipped to assume its intended usable position. It

islaunderable that itmay be kept spotless and clean and is also reversible Isb that either the top or bottoin walls 13" or 20 may be brought into play. necaeseer the soft interior, there is, no likelihood of the glossy surface of the lid being smeared or in any manner scratched or otherwise impaired.

It is repeated, that the COfiCpt has to do 'With the transform-able work surface of a fold-away lid on a sewing machine table, and preferably wherein that surface, being temporarily applicable and removable, is presented through the medium of a simple and economical 0'11- afid 'off terry cloth jacket.

The fore oing is considered as illustrative'only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use on a hinged fold-away lid such as is' employed on currently used table-type sewing machines; a cloth jacket adapted to snugly e'ncas'e said lid, said jacket comprising a Slipcover made of expansible andcontract'able terry cloth and being opena't one end and closed at the other end, said slipeeveibeing or prescribed size and proportional to the size and shape of said lid so that when in operating position on said lid it is then distended and self-retaining, the exterior nap surfac being skid-resistant.

2.'F'oruse ona' hinged fold-away s'lippery su'rface lid suchas is commonly employed on currently used' toitself in a manner to provide the usable surface of said lid with a practical anti-skid work surface.

7 3. In combination, a sewing machine embodying a horizontal machine-supporting table provided with a horizontal shelf extending outwardly from that end of the table adjacent the workingposition of the user of the machine, said shelf having :3, flat work surface embodying taut but pliant skid-resisting media which funct io'ns to cause a slick-surfaced piece of work to tei'nporarily adhere and cling thereto and to thus prevent the work from becoming perplexingly displaced while it is being sewn and otherwisehandled, said media spanning the entire working surface and providing a selfadjustable skid-resistant area which, while it causes the garment or other piece of work to stay put, does not hinder the intended shiftable movement thereof that may be needed and required by the worker.

4. In combination, a sewing machine embodying a horizontal machine-supporting table provided with a horizontal shelf extending outwardly from that; end of the table adjacent the working position of the user of being such that the top side of the shelf permits unceding t ype sewing machines; a terry .cloth slipcover constituting a .lid encasing jacket and which is' open at an inner end and closed at the outer end, said jacket being pliant, self-adjustable and skid=resistant, expansible and normally narrower than the lid, whereby when it is;slipped endwise. of the lid it stretchesand retains itself in its given position, and also spreads and tantens hampered gliding and movement of a piece of work thereon, and means for temporarily transforming said topside into a nonslippery work surface, said means com; prising a tautened snug-fitting Slipcover stretched and spanning said top side, said slipcover beingconstructed 'of launderable terry cloth and being open at one end and closed at the other end.

References Cited the file of this patent. UNiTED STATES PATENTS 

